Stress hormones and crating reactive dogs

[romeosangiovese]

Something interesting I came across while googling - http://dogpsychologyhelp.com/cortisol.aspx I was reading a dog behaviour book, Scaredy Dog by Ali Brown, that mentioned glucocorticoids and other stress hormones. This might explain why even a couple of days after our dogs go through a reactive episode, they still have a sort of "high", and why they react even worse at the next episode if it closely follows the first episode. The book suggests long walks (not slow ones but a regular trot) to "work off" the stress hormones - exercise apparently causes them to dissipate faster.

I was looking for some of the threads I came across before on the following issue but couldn't!

This book, incidentally, also suggests crating dogs that are reactive in the car. Crating and covering the crate completely while the dog is in the car so that the dog does not get any visual stimulation at all, and if possible (maybe with some help!), feeding the dog in the car while you're driving around. This teaches the dog to be calm while the car is moving. Not surprisingly this will likely be an exercise that will take some time. I've not gotten far enough to see if she suggests how to remove the covering, but I'd guess you'd have to do it a little bit by a little bit!

I'm wondering if this might work for dogs that are reactive to other things that they can hear/feel (other than see). Car chasing comes to mind - I think Caro mentioned that her dog could hear the car and would get all agitated even before the car comes into sight. I'm wondering if crating the dog while outdoors covering the crate completely, while cars just zoom by, and feeding the dog the whole time (or maybe putting dinner in the crate) will help.

Just some thoughts!

 

[Caro]

Thanks. I like the idea of working off the stress. Deska stays very hyped up for at least a week after thunderstorms so I know it can last a while. Plus because he has the 'fight' reaction during storms and other loud noises the vet said he had a high adrenalin response.

Lately I have been taking Deska for walks along the main road (only place with a footpath around here) to try to desensitise him to car sounds. He is actually really good walking alongside cars as soon as he knows he has to behave. I just thought it would be useful to get him used to seeing and hearing cars in the background. But perhaps the walking along (and I have treats) is actually helping to calm his hormone levels when the cars go past - it could explain a lot, like why he only reacts to cars in the distance and in car parks (and loud cars) rather than the ones just driving past. Couldn't do it with a crate though as Deska really hates confined spaces.

Is the Ali Brown book worth reading? Deska has a high startle response so I am always looking for new ideas (I used to fall over a lot when he was a pup and I think that is why he startles so easily).

Funny you should mention the crate in the car. I have to crate Tully in the car because she goes nuts when other cars go past. Crating her has made no difference to her reactions - it just saves my sanity.